Archives for July 2007

U.S. technology giant Microsoft Corp. recently announced that it will be setting up shop in Vancouver, British Columbia. The location of the new Microsoft Canada Development Centre was chosen because the city is both “a global gateway with a diverse population,” and “is close to Microsoft corporate offices in Redmond, Washington.” However, the most significant reason, and the one that has stimulated much debate, centers on immigration and temporary foreign workers.

With a high demand for foreign information technology (IT) workers, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has long lobbied the American government to ease restrictions on temporary work visas (H1-B visas). Recognizing that American immigration policy is not likely to change in the near future, Canada’s more open immigration system for foreign skilled workers has become a more attractive option for Microsoft. The Canadian software development centre will allow “the company to recruit and retain highly skilled people affected by immigration issues in the U.S.”

In Canada there is no annual limit on the number of work permits issued; Canadian companies in labour-tight industries eagerly use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to recruit foreign talent. Attracting information technology workers has been deemed a priority in Canada, and special immigration provisions for IT workers have been implemented to facilitate their entry into the Canadian work force.

There is a fundamental difference between the thinking behind temporary foreign workers in the United States and in Canada. A Canadian temporary work permit is seen as the first step to becoming a Permanent Resident and then a Canadian citizen, whereas American H1-B holders are aware that their stay in the U.S. is only temporary. Those Microsoft employees on H1- B visas, who would have to leave the United States when their visas expire, now have the option to transfer to the Microsoft development centre in Canada.

This works well for Microsoft. They can maintain these trained and valued employees, they can benefit from Canada’s more open temporary foreign worker program to recruit additional IT workers from abroad, and their foreign employees can more easily become Permanent Residents and Canadian citizens. Employees are therefore more long-term. The new Microsoft Canada Development Centre also works well for Canada. The country will benefit from the influx of foreign IT workers and the increased investment in Canada’s software development industry.

The Vancouver centre will serve as a base for software development for a full range of Microsoft products. The centre will open in September with a staff of 200 workers and will likely expand to employ 1,000, both Canadian-born and internationally-recruited.

Continually striving to be a more attractive destination for Canadian immigrants, Manitoba has been investing in programs and support systems for newcomers.

The elements of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) reflect the province’s community values. The MPNP is unique in that, among its six streams, two of them offer priority assessment to applicants who have either family or community ties to the province. The thinking is that, if new immigrants can settle in areas where they have family and/or a community support group, their transition into Canadian society and the Canadian workforce will be smoother.

Additionally, the Manitoba government has been investing in settlement services for immigrants in an effort to retain these new residents and to encourage continued immigration to the province. The recently unveiled Manitoba Settlement Strategy will increase settlement supports to newcomers in both metropolitan and urban areas. The program involves increased pre-arrival information and orientation as well as on-arrival assessment and community services. In addition to improvements in English training services, the program also ensures access to specialized programs to connect new families with neighbourhood support groups.

To be nominated under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, applicants must demonstrate that they intend to establish themselves permanently in Manitoba and must meet the requirements of one of the Priority Assessment streams, the General stream, or the PNPImmigration Program for Business stream.

Priority Assessment Stream – Applicants may qualify for priority assessment under one of the following four streams:

Employer Direct Stream: Applicants must have a permanent full-time job offer in Manitoba and must have the training, work experience, licensing, and language ability required for the position. Manitoba employers must first apply to the MPNP for pre-approval of job offers.

International Student Stream: Upon completion of a post-secondary program in Manitoba, applicants must be working in Manitoba on a post-graduation work permit and must have a permanent full-time job offer from a Manitoba employer.

Family Support Stream: Applicants must have an Affidavit of Support from a close family member in Manitoba and must meet the minimum requirements for education, work experience, age, and language ability.

Community Support Stream: Applicants must have a Letter of Community Support from an established community organization that has signed a Community Support Agreement with the MPNP. They must meet the minimum requirements for education, work experience, age, and language ability.

General Stream – Those who do not qualify for Priority Assessment may be eligible for the General Stream of the MPNP, which works on a points system. Applicants obtain points for education, work experience, age, language ability, and adaptability. They also must provide either:

Proof of a close family member in Manitoba or;

Two Affidavits of Support from distant relatives or close friends in Manitoba or;

Proof of at least six months previous full-time work in Manitoba or;

Evidence of a completed (non-language training) education program in Manitoba.

PNPImmigration Program for Business – Applicants must have previously visited Manitoba and have the intent to purchase or establish a business in Manitoba or to become partners in an existing business. They must have previous business experience and meet minimum requirements for personal net worth and amount of equity investment in Manitoba.

July 1st, 2007 marked the 140th anniversary of Canada’s confederation, whereby the existing British North American provinces were united in the federation of Canada. Now commonly known as Canada Day, the official establishment of the country has been celebrated on July 1st since 1867. Canada Day is an opportunity for all Canadians, whether born in Canada, or newly arrived, to recognize the opportunities that the country offers and to celebrate Canada’s multicultural heritage.

Built on a strong tradition of immigration, Canada’s steadily increasing annual immigration numbers are among the highest in the world. 254,400 newcomers were welcomed to Canada between July 1st, 2005 and July 1st, 2006, an increase of over 9,800 compared to the previous year.

Parades, ceremonies, and festivities across the country celebrated Canada’s distinct multicultural spirit. In the Montreal (Quebec) parade, there were dozens of proud contingents of cultural and ethnic community groups. The Filipino Association of Montreal, the Irish Heritage Association, and the Polish Canadian Congress were joined by Chinese-Canadians with dragon puppets, German-Canadians in lederhosen, and Danish-Canadians in Viking hats. A Vancouver (British Columbia) park hosted a multicultural performance of Indian, Arabic, and Persian song and dance.

Of the many community celebrations nation- wide, Ottawa’s Parliament Hill was the focal point of Canada Day festivities. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General Michaelle Jean addressed the thousands gathered there for the day-long celebration. The Governor General swore in 49 new Canadians at a special Canada Day citizenship ceremony, marking the 60th anniversary of Canadian citizenship. There were 34 such ceremonies across the country in which 1,700 individuals became Canadian citizens.

According to some recent polls, Canada’s multicultural society has a lot to be thankful for. Canada ranks among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of life expectancy, standard of living, literacy and education according to the U.N. Human Development Index. Most major Canadian cities rank within the top 25 most livable cities worldwide. A recent BBC polls suggests that even those who do not live in Canada recognize its merits, as Canada ranked at the top of a list of 27 countries in terms of global popularity.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis famously said, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.” He meant that openness and transparency are fundamental elements of a true democracy. As Canadians, we pride ourselves on the strength of our democracy and the rights which are enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Recent events have brought rights and democracy in Canada into question.

The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program is the Canadian government’s primary means of helping employers address immediate skill and labour shortages. As labour tensions continue to mount across industries, Canadian employers have been making use of this program to fill a growing number of vacant positions.